Goya: Il sonno della ragione genera mostri

The sleep of reason breeds monsters, meaning we must rely—blindly—on reason. Or the dream of reason breeds monsters: the illusion of having control over reality thanks to rationality can perhaps lead to even greater harm. With a black-and-white that seems to already depict the eternal struggle between rational and irrational, between light and shadow, between day and night, Goya's famous engraving was part of "The Caprichos," published in February 1799. The collection was withdrawn from circulation just two days after its release, however, because the social criticism emerging from these plates, intended for mass circulation, was violently contested and erased by the Holy Inquisition. Where are the real monsters? Are they in the reality that surrounds us or are they within us? 00:00 The Engravings 01:13 The Caprichos 02:09 The Sleep or the Dream of Reason? 4:16 The Disappearance of the Great Patrons 6:05 Goya's Social Critique 6:41 Analysis of the Work 8:13 Are the Night Creatures Real or Dreamed? 8:47 Our Dark Side